Four children in Kentucky have now been stricken with Pediatric Multi-Symptom Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS).
PMIS is a rare illness being seen in a small percentage of children who have been infected with coronavirus (COVID-19).
A 5-year-old Kentucky boy was in the hospital with the syndrome but is now home, while an 11-year-old child is currently hospitalized. A 10-year-old, previously on a ventilator, remains hospitalized but is improving, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.
A 16-year-old has also undergone treatment for PMIS.
The Kentucky Pediatric COVID-19 Hotline (800-722-5725) is staffed by Norton Children’s Hospital and prepared to answer questions from parents and clinicians about PMIS.
CDC issues statement on PMIS
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued information on the syndrome, including background information:
On April 26, 2020, clinicians in the United Kingdom (UK) recognized increased reports of previously healthy children presenting with a severe inflammatory syndrome with Kawasaki disease-like features. Eight cases, including one death, from the UK were described in a recent publication.
The cases occurred in children testing positive for current or recent infection by SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Patients presented with a persistent fever and a constellation of symptoms including hypotension, multiorgan (e.g., cardiac, gastrointestinal, renal, hematologic, dermatologic and neurologic) involvement, and elevated inflammatory markers. Respiratory symptoms were not present in all cases.
During March and April, cases of COVID-19 rapidly increased in New York City and New York State. In early May 2020, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene received reports of children with multi-system inflammatory syndrome.
From April 16 through May 4, 2020, 15 patients ages two to 15-years-old were hospitalized, with many requiring admissions to the intensive care unit.
As of May 12, 2020, the New York State Department of Health identified 102 patients (including patients from New York City) with similar presentations, many of whom tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. New York State and New York City continue to receive additional reports of suspected cases.
It is currently unknown if multi-system inflammatory syndrome is specific to children or if it also occurs in adults.
There is limited information currently available about risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical course, and treatment for MIS-C. CDC is requesting healthcare providers report suspected cases to public health authorities to better characterize this newly recognized condition in the pediatric population.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
